After 36 games across two groups, the 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) playoffs are set to kick off at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos from Saturday through to June 11.
Six teams: Bendel Insurance, Remo Stars, Enyimba, Rivers United, Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars will tackle each other for the ultimate goal of being crown champions and the ₦100 million prize money.
Afrosport runs through the favourites for the title from the likeliest winner to the least favourite.
Major contenders
Enyimba
The Aba outfit are the top favourite to win the NPFL playoffs and for good reason.
They are the most successful and decorated team in the history of Nigerian football with a record eight league titles and 12 titles from other competitions.
While much of Enyimba’s success has come from the regular league format of 20 teams, they have also shown their credentials in the abridged format, winning the league in 2019 ahead of Kano Pillars, Enugu Rangers, Akwa United, Lobi Stars and the now-defunct FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
That is a clear sign that when it comes to the NPFL no matter the format, no team does it better than Enyimba even when it seems their form is second best.
Rivers United
The Pride of Rivers are the reigning champions following their maiden triumph last season.
Despite a tight schedule that saw them go all the way to the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals before losing to eventual finalists Young Africans, Rivers United were able to navigate through it all and finish top of Group B during the regular season and with such character, they cannot be written off in the playoffs where the prospect of being back-to-back league champions will be enticing.
Bendel Insurance
The Benin side stood out as the only side that went through the entire regular season unbeaten.
Such is a rarity in Nigeria owing to how tedious and treacherous playing away from home can be in the NPFL.
However, Insurance showed a lot of grit and resilience along with strong backing from the Edo State Government to pick eight wins and 10 draws, three of those wins and six draws recorded away from home to finish top of Group A. They are also into the Federation Cup final and will get to take on Rangers.
It is simply an astonishing feat by Insurance considering they gained promotion to the NPFL this season from the Nigeria National League (NNL). There will definitely be motivation to go all the way a lift the title for the first time in 44 years.
Outsiders
Remo Stars
The Sky Blues have also been one of the most impressive teams in the NPFL this season.
They finished third last season upon gaining promotion which booked them a place in the CAF Confederation Cup, their first-ever continental qualification in less than 15 years as a professional outfit.
This term, they’ve continued with their brilliant and progressive style of play under coach Daniel Ogunmodede and managed to be in title contention once again like the previous campaign.
Remo Stars might not have the kind of experience the big guns have but they are certainly showing their credentials as a modest team with a good structure.
Lobi Stars
The Markudi side has been a stable name in the NPFL for years and have often been in title contention such as the 2018 season when they were top of the table but the league ended abruptly due to a power tussle within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Lobi Stars also reached the playoffs of the previous abridged league in 2019 but were second from the bottom of the six teams. The 1999 league champions are once again a long shot towards the title.
Sunshine Stars
The Ondo State capital outfit has a season to remember with their third-place finish in Group B, one of their strongest finishes in the NPFL after recent seasons of relegation battles.
Indeed, Sunshine Stars were close to relegation in 2021 and 2022 but escaped at the death. To be among the six title contenders is a massive leap in form and fortune but it puts them at the bottom of the contenders and it will be a miracle if they can stun the major and more experienced favourites to lift a first-ever NPFL title.
